Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)

I do not need to be lectured by the Deputy on points of procedure and how this Parliament works.

I was making the point that just because a motion was passed in the Dáil does not mean the Government was bound to implement every element of it. The Deputy knows that.

Regarding Housing for All, the Government, with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne at the heart of this, is preparing the next phase of our housing strategy. In relation to the action that is being taken, we know in recent weeks and months that due to the efforts of Government and local authorities, 8,000 families have either been prevented from going into homelessness or have been exited from temporary accommodation. However, we know more needs to be done. Too many families are still experiencing the risk of poverty and homelessness and too many children are still sleeping in conditions that the Government wants to be otherwise. When we bring forward not only the budget, but also Housing for All, that will be a key area of focus for us. In the last number of weeks, the Government made further funding available to focus particularly on families at risk of being homeless and to give them more permanent measures to avoid that trauma happening to them.

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